to tables or desks for coloring activities. Have story time in an area of the room where children can be comfortably seated on the oor.• To help children identify their own books, print their names on either the cover or the inside cover of their books. is will also help children to become more accustomed to seeing their names. To make sure children won’t lose their books, nd a place to store the books between classes.• Some lessons include notes for parents. After you and the children have completed these lessons, you may want to send the books home so parents can reinforce their children’s learning. Enlist parents’ help to make sure books are returned to class for the next meeting.• Remember that children of three and four are very literal- minded. Be careful about how you tell young children that God will answer their prayers. ey might expect an audible vocal answer in which God says yes, no, or maybe to their requests. Avoid describing death by saying it is like falling asleep. A young child could draw the conclusion that the best way to stay alive is to ght bedtime as long as possible.• Expect preschool children to forget information that is outside the realm of their experience or interest. eir world is very small and they are focused primarily on what happens there. Larger issues are likely to be too remote or abstract for their complete understanding.• e “Prayers to Know” section of the children’s handbook contains traditional Catholic prayers. It would be goodfor children to be able to say these important prayers by heart. It is ne for children to learn the prayers even iftheir understanding of them is incomplete. You need not explain each point or phrase. It’s enough for preschoolers to understand that these prayers bring us closer to God.• e most important thing you can do for these children is to give them happy experiences at your meetings with them. Help them to feel safe and welcome. Make sure there are no put-downs, no sarcasm, no ghting, and no interruptions. As their teacher or catechist, you are the parish and the Church to these young children. Your love and respect for them re ect the love and respect Jesus has for all of God’s children. is is a big responsibility. ank you for taking it on.We Make the Sign of the Cross—page 4Objective: Children will be able to say the words and complete the actions of the Sign of the Cross.Perhaps no action so quickly identi es someone as a Catholic as the Sign of the Cross. In this prayer, Catholics proclaim their belief both in the Trinity and in the saving Death of Jesus on the Cross.Learning this prayer gives young children a part in the liturgical prayer of parents and other grown-ups. It makes them an active part of the Church family. e Sign of the Cross isan especially enjoyable prayer for youngchildren because it involves both words and physical activity.Materials: CrayonsLesson Plan: Begin by asking, “Can anyone make the Sign of the Cross and say the words?” If so, let the child or children demonstrate. en suggest that you all make the Sign of the Cross together. Ask the children to stand in a semicircle or wide arc. en place yourself in the semicircle or arc, close to the middle. Because of your position, you will be visible to all the children, and you will not have the problem of the “mirror image,” which you would have if you faced the children.Ask children to watch you as you make the Sign of the Cross and say the words. en invite them to join you in makingthe Sign of the Cross with words and actions. Be sure to say “Holy” as you touch your left shoulder and “Spirit” as you touch your right. Bring your hands together in prayer position at the midline of your chest as you say “Amen.” Give children several opportunities to practice at this time, and be sure to make the Sign of the Cross with them whenever you pray togetherin class.To explain to Seeds children what the Sign of the Cross means, say that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the ree Persons in one God and that we honor and praise them whenever we make the Sign of the Cross.When children return to their desks or work tables, distribute their books. Help children nd page 4 of their handbooks. Read the title of the lesson to them. en ask them to look at the illustrations. ey show a child making the Sign of the Cross. Review the words and the actions. en ask each child to color the illustration to make that child look as much like himself or herself as possible. For example, they should use crayons to make hair of their own color and color the shirt like the one they are wearing today.Who Is Jesus?—page 5Objective: Children will be able to repeat that Jesus is both God and man. e central fact of Christianity is that Jesus is truly God and truly man. He took on human nature in order to save all people. ese are di cult concepts for three- and four- year-olds. Indeed, they’re di cult for people of any age. What you’re doing by presenting these ideas to children of this age is planting the belief in the con dence that it will grow as the children gain greater maturity.Materials: Crayons, reproductions of Marian art, statues and pictures of Jesus and Mary5